The Unbearable Lightness of the Jacket

It was Konca (pronounced Konya, and yes, all Turkish first names are fantastic) who first told me that I needed to go to Istanbul, telling me I’d just love it, and seeing just how deep her eyes meant it, I had to book my flight immediately, just like that, smack dab in the middle of fashion week. Hypnotization. But we can stop talking about Istanbul for two seconds seeing as that’s not our subject for the day. I mean, c’mon, we can do this, right? No Istanbul.

Why fashion week? Because Konca is a fashion editor for Turkish Vogue and that’s where I met her the first time. At the fashion week. The wonderful world of fashion, but that’s not the subject either. I mean, c’mon, we can do this, not talk about fashion week either, right?

Nope.

The subject of this post, les enfants, is much more profound…

The subject of this post is: HOW IS IT THAT ALL THE COOLEST GIRLS ON EARTH WEAR THEIR JACKETS SLUNG OVER THEIR SHOULDERS IN A PERFECTLY EFFORTLESS WAY but not me?

Before you give me your harsh analysis, let me try to explain to you why I can’t.

The reasons why I NEVER wear my coat/trench/jacket/ slung over my shoulders in a perfectly effortless way are as follows:

1/ I never think to do it. NEVER. When I have a jacket, I put it on all the way. See how uncool I am?

2/ I just haven’t figured out how to sling my coat gracefully over my shoulder (It’s not easy!!!). It takes me eight hours to get it just right and then it falls off right away anyway.

3/ No seriously, it falls all the way off. The few times I actually have tried to wear my coat effortlessly over the shoulders, it fell and was lost forever.

So there you have it. It doesn’t work at all for me. And it’s a shame because wearing your coat this way separates right now (Four years ago, it was rolling jacket sleeves up, which took me two years to master, and now I have it down, just when you start to see it in an Talbots catalogue, yarrrr) fashion mortals from fashion deities, just ask Audrey Hepburn, or Giovanna Battaglia…. Or Konca.

Well fine fine. Poof! That’s it.

Ah yes. If one day you see a photo of me wearing my jacket all super effortlessly over my shoulders, don’t be fooled.

No worries, dear, that trend hasn’t really made it to NYC yet and besides, with the exception of the increasingly rare balmy day, it is just too plain cold. I have shoulders that slope like the pyramids so there’s no way I can wear a coat anyway other than the traditional way, unless I sew Velcro to my shoulders. No, stick to mastering your cape/handbag/camera dilemma … One fashion feat of daring at a time!

She really looks like she was born with that jacket over her shoulders. Looks really cool! So here I am trying it out this morning and here are the results:
A) you have to walk slowly which can bother other people; for example when you are in the subway or on the stairs…
B) you can not really do sudden movements, have to think it through and choose your movements wisely
C) it really helps when you have wider shoulders which I don’t have… Damn!
So yes, I guess this doesn’t work for me:((
Love,http://barboradudinska.blogspot.com
“fashionably tasteful.have a bite”

Hè, hè, me I am totally not cool, yet I sometimes slung my jacket over my shoulders, like the beautiful Konca…à la Audrey…hè, hè…
…When?
…aargh, you caught me!
……Well, to be honest, have you ever tried, when you’re already wearing a jacket (like Konca) above your shirt, to manage your sleeves into the sleeves of an overall jacket?
C’est l’enfer!
Tout tire!
you look like a double cheesburger.
So I slung my overall jacket above my jacket, and invoke the benevolent laws of physics (friction, moment of inertia) to battle at my side against the evel one (gravity).

I have already given this WAY more thought than it deserves…but, I think it a jack or coat slung on your shoulders, and not falling off, has a few requirements. It must have some weight to it, it has to be slightly over-sized, and you can’t talk much with your hands and swing your arms.
Great photo – and love your blog!

Dilemmas dilemmas. Coats usually have sleeves (some only have arm holes these days), so I use them (the sleeves, that is). I have no reason to wear mine over my shoulders because when I think to put on a coat, it’s because the weather justifies the use of a coat and I am cold. So, why not put it on all the way? Besides, taking pictures with a coat slung over the shoulders is just not workable. We photographers need our arms to move all over the place. Moreover, I am a person who talks with my hands. I need to gesticulate to make my point. What would I do then? I don’t need to think about this one too much. I will continue to stick my arms through the sleeves and risk not being a cool “of the moment” girl.

for those whose “effortlessly thrown” attempts are trumped – try buttoning the top button or hooking the top clasp. you will NOT lose your jacket, and accomplish a cape-like silhouette. so… the look of ease, without the drama ;)

You know what I think? Some of us miss the gene of effortlessly slung the coat/jacket over the shoulder! I know I do!
But do not discourage, perseverance is the word!

You’ve just made my day! I mean, I’m not the only one missing that gene! Although I find it hard to believe, from what I’ve seen and heard, that you, Garance Doré, may have such a problem! No, I don’t believe it! You’re too cool for that!

Remember, PERSEVERANCE is the word, you can do it (this is mostly to myself)! And I’ll try if you do!
Great post, love the title! And Konca (strange name!) looks great, she obviously inherited that gene!

Great post! Love the title… and the photo! And the story!
As you say, she looks so effortlessly cool!
I’ve tried to do that, but I don’t think (I’m sure) I looked as cool as that!

Probably why she’s turkish Vogue editor and I’m not… any fashion magazine editor, I mean!
How wonderful, Garance Doré has the same issue that I have! Hurray, great, I’m not alone any more!!!
Big hug to you!

Eh, look looks a bit silly, even on the lovely Konca. Shoulders look awkward, women look far wider than they really are, and then of course you’ve got the flapping sleeves. If you want to drape something over your shoulders, get a cape. Otherwise, it’s just wasteful to use something specifically designed to keep you warm by fitting your body as a drape. If something doesn’t work for you because it’s too impractical, odds are . . . it’s too impractical.

Well Garance, yesterday I allmost lost a great camel coat because I was wearing it on my shoulders. I am too clumsy to pull off that look. Fortunately a 8 year old picked it up and came running after me saying… Madam your coat just fell off. Never again!!!!

i think buttoning the top button to keep the coat on the shoulders is cooler than trying to keep it on with uncomfortable ways. because you and everyone know it can fall down and you are trying hard to keep it. when you want to wear your coat slightly on the shoulders just button the first one don’t think about it and you will feel more free.run everywhere. randomly stylish.
that’s it. form follows function =)

i think, as some other comments also mention, the name is Kondja; because we pronounce “c” as “dj” in turkish. On the other hand, we’d write konya as konya – and it’s actually a city in central Turkey, hometown of Rumi:)
Konca or gonca – it’s the same thing- means flower bud. it’s a nice name for a nice lady :)

Garance! I think I have solved your problem! It is simple. . . when you put your jacket over your shoulders, tuck your elbows up into the arm holes! Voila! Now you have your jacket on your shoulders and your hands automatically in the position that is best suited to stable photography (I should know as a photographer myself.) BONUS: NEW TREND _ TINY T-REX ARMS!!!! Hahaha just kidding Garance, I have no idea how to pull this off either!

Rebecca is right (hi Rebecca), there are lots of good restaurants in the area, but I agree with you that nothing is mind blowing, except maybe Fresh Cream. Hulas is fun and they have creative food. Our favorite restaurant in PG is Peppers pretty unique and fresh Mexican food. Thai Bistro II in PG is really fantastic and for local sushi (so you dont have to treck over to Carmel) is Crystalfish on Lighthouse in New Monterey. I also have to say that Matteos the restaurant Rebecca mentioned above is excellent. Ive eaten there a few times for special occastions ($$-$$$$) and nothing has disappointed. Happy restaurant hunting,Jennifer L

Much as Id like to say that your post just isn’t funny, because I don’t like people being supercilious, I can’t. If you move around and do things with your hands it isn’t the look for you. Im sort of the same. i don’t just grab a coat and dash to wherever. i tend to need to grab things, print things, and pet dogs when my coat is on. It does not work with that over the shoulder idea.

I’ve done is successfully once, probably because it was driven by necessity and complete accident–I even had my clutch tucked under my arm. Usually my coat/jacket just ends up balled up and flung over one shoulder while I’m digging for car keys in the other hand.